Mask Exemptions in enclosed environments

My Year 11 child has been granted an exemption “to wear a mask” in class!! Yes we all know it’ll make him stand out. He’s ok with it, doesn’t seem bothered wearing them, and thinks anyone not wearing a mask indoors/around people are idiots and doesn’t care what they think or if they make fun of him.

Not sure how much use it’ll do without others wearing them but it is fluid repellent Medical iir type so hopefully some benefit still. Also will be sat at the back nearest an open window.

Nicole T said:

I can understand and respect the belief that they're ineffective. Also that they promote a sense that people are safe because they and those around them are wearing masks, and so social distancing measures can be ignored.

I'm more curious about the borderline conspiracy stuff: that nearly every government in the world has colluded to play some sort of massive practical joke on us all. Also, the credibility that this seems to have with some very intelligent and well educated people I know. It's almost on par with the outright virus deniers. And there are a fair few of those about.

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You don't need to be wearing a tin hat to be dubious about mask advice given the very weak science that hasn't clarified things. I do not think this is a conspiracy rather that panicked governments saw China reacting to it in an authoritarian way, copied this approach and took a nuclear option (lockdown, closure of schools) with horrible consequences and a failure to protect the people who are actually very vulnerable e.g. the very elderly.
I guess if turns out that these steps were unnecessary and damaging then I guess those governments would be in trouble hence the narrative of 'controlling the virus' needs to be continued. The SAGE committee references the Behavioural Insiqht team's instruction to make the public more compliant by encouraging a sense of personal threat and by social shaming of those who are not compliant. Judging by this thread they have been successful.
Sadly my own boys' school is making masks mandatory ahead of what the government requires given that my town in Surrey has 0 cases much less deaths. I have asked for their risk assessment for this measure.
So yes I could wear a mask and make the anxious people feel better but then I'd be participating in a big hairy audacious lie which does not sit well with me. Instead I shall stay away from the public if I develop a nasty cough or fever but in the meantime I will do what my human ancestors have done throughout time which is to expose myself to viruses and bacteria in order to keep my immune system fighting fit!

LooperCat said:

I did a little experiment on a hot day where I’d been wearing each type of mask we use at work for well over an hour, lumping heavy patients about and generally getting quite hot & sweaty. No difference in my measured oxygen levels. Only n=1 of course. View attachment 43623

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Great N=1. For next experiment check out the germ count on your fabric versus correctly fitted ppe perhaps?

DavidGrahamJones said:

In what way can you understand something that has no evidence? Why would you respect or believe something that is quite clearly wrong? There is stacks of evidence going back 20 years, research with conclusions stating we should wear a mask. Not reading it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Where does it say it's ineffective, Daily Mail, the Express? No wonder the country is in a mess.

Looking at these re-usable face shields I'd like to suggest that there is just no excuse for non compliance of a mask wearing instruction.
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Correct me if I'm wrong but we are in the middle of a pandemic, a virus that is spread just by breathing amongst other things. Or am I supposed to believe the likes of David Icke, someone with absolutely no evidence of there being a conspiracy to inject us with nano robots to control us. I don't think the queen is a lizard either.

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I do not think that the queen is a lizard either but I have no idea why you think we are in the middle of a pandemic when we are in fact at the tail end of a not very dangerous upper respiratory virus that takes out the vulnerable elderly just as such viruses always do. There is of course a panic pandemic.

Let us all hope you’ll be soon saying “told you so” @NicoleC1971 as opposed to “whatever happened to NicoleC1971?”

NicoleC1971 said:

So yes I could wear a mask and make the anxious people feel better but then I'd be participating in a big hairy audacious lie which does not sit well with me.

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with respect, there is no proof that it is a big audacious lie, or any lie at all. It seems the debate is still ongoing.

Under such circumstances, until definitive proof is produced, I have decide to use a mask where pratical to do so for one main reason:

If it is correct that mask wearing helps reduce the spread, wearing one is a win and I have helped save lives.

If incorrrect, I have at least done no harm.

My point? Wearing a mask harms no-one, If it is proven that wearing masks are positively helpful, and I havent worn one, I have actively done harm. Its too late to undo the harm if anti maskers are right.

NicoleC1971 said:

I do not think that the queen is a lizard either but I have no idea why you think we are in the middle of a pandemic when we are in fact at the tail end of a not very dangerous upper respiratory virus that takes out the vulnerable elderly just as such viruses always do. There is of course a panic pandemic.

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I understand now where you are coming from. You dont believe the virus is dangerous to the vast majority or believe we have a pandemic going on. OK, that explains so much about your posts.

I am not prepared to risk others lives just in case the WHO etc are wrong. Your decisions are your own.

HSSS said:

My Year 11 child has been granted an exemption “to wear a mask” in class!! Yes we all know it’ll make him stand out. He’s ok with it, doesn’t seem bothered wearing them, and thinks anyone not wearing a mask indoors/around people are idiots and doesn’t care what they think or if they make fun of him.

Not sure how much use it’ll do without others wearing them but it is fluid repellent Medical iir type so hopefully some benefit still. Also will be sat at the back nearest an open window.

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@kev-w exactly what is funny about being worried for my child’s health and well being? You may or may not agree with my thoughts but that is callous.

NicoleC1971 said:

. . . . . . we are in fact at the tail end of a not very dangerous upper respiratory virus that takes out the vulnerable elderly j

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This is a a wind up! Right?

For some reason this particular virus also took out a lot of NHS and care home staff and if I'm not mistaken, most if not all 'not very dangerous respiratory viruses' don't do that, or have I missed something. They don't all look that old either.

The sort of thing you are saying because we have freedom of speech is one good reason for us not to have freedom of speech. My heart goes out to the families of all carers who have lost their lives, possibly looking after people who think this virus isn't very serious.

DavidGrahamJones said:

This is a a wind up! Right? I didn't think we had trolls on this forum. Something else I've learned today.

For some reason this particular virus also took out a lot of NHS and care home staff and if I'm not mistaken, most if not all 'not very dangerous respiratory viruses' don't do that, or have I missed something. They don't all look that old either.

The sort of thing you are saying because we have freedom of speech is one good reason for us not to have freedom of speech. My heart goes out to the families of all carers who have lost their lives, possibly looking after people who think this virus isn't very serious.

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The gentleman on the second row down, third from the left was Brian, one of my uni lecturers in mental health and a nurse himself. One of my coursemates (an ex ITU nurse retraining as a paramedic) nursed him as he died. He left a lovely wife and three children. He was in his early 50s. So when people just dismiss this virus as certain people are, it’s hard not to become angry. I’ve lost several colleagues and friends to this, and some who survived but are living with some very long term effects as a result. Conspiracy theorists can do one.